Honor, Courage and Commitment-September 11th in the Navy-Tuesday afternoon

I do not know how to describe the ceremony I witnessed this morning. It was beautifully constructed and orchestrated by Chaplain Bradshaw. Many people spoke of their experiences with September 11. The difference was, September 11 was framed as a moment in our history where we as American had the chance to shine (not in any way downplaying or aggrandizing the devastation of that day)and that we as a military had a tremendous opportunity to do what we were designed to do; bring peace and democracy to the world. If we can skip the political/emotional/theological/ideological debate about what the military is designed to do and what it does for just a moment, it was a stunning point. People told stories of being seen as a hero and not the enemy when arriving on Middle East soil to bring peace their and fight the bad guys. There was a pervasive belief about doing right in this world; about bring a better way of life to those who are suffering and tormented.

My favorite was a Marine Major who did embassy security at a time when all the embassies were being bombed. He spoke of entering the Kabul embassy twelve years after it had been evacuated. There was one office in the bombed out building still intact: The marine opps office inside of a vault. The vault was opened and in this pristine office sitting on the desk was a folded American flag and a note left by the gunnery sergeant in charge of evacuating that embassy when it was last occupied. The note explained that the flag was the one that had waved over the embassy as a symbol of the ideals of America (not its reality) peace and safety and security-hope for a better way of life. It was addressed, “Dear Marine” and asked this unknown future Marine to take care of the flag for what it had once represented there and would hopefully represent again.